The band played a sold-out gig at the Fox Theatre in Detroit (Image: Uncle Sam - Alive in Detroit/YouTube)

Chris had tweeted outside the venue just hours before his sudden death (Image: Uncle Sam - Alive in Detroit/YouTube)

They were then scheduled to appear in Maryland Heights, Denver, Houston, Dallas and Oklahoma where their tour would end on May 27.

According to the set list posted online by fans, Chris' last ever song was In My Time Of Dying, which contains the lyrics: "In my time of dying, I want nobody to mourn / All I want for you to do is take my body home."

It continues with the verse: "Jesus, going to make up my dying bed / Meet me, Jesus, meet me / Meet me in the middle of the air.

"If my wings should fail me, Lord /Please meet me with another pair."

Chris was also the lead singer of Audioslave, playing here in Havana in May 2005 (Image: Reuters)

Chris appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on April 19 2017 (Image: NBCUniversal)

The song has been covered by the likes of Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin and is thought to have originated with Louisiana street performers in the 1920s.

It is inspired by a Bible passage from the Book of Psalms and closes each verse with a line about the singer's deathbed.

Was the last song Chris Cornell sang hinting at death?

The original Bible passage is: "The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness."

His representative Brian Bumbery said in a statement: "His wife Vicky and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and unexpected passing.

"They would like to thank his fans for their continuous love and loyalty and ask that their privacy be respected at this time."

The statement also said the family would be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause and asked for privacy.